Along with pumpkins and scarves, fall 2017 brings new episodes of crowd favorites. Here’s a look into what’s on the upcoming roster. September 20: • The Good Place (NBC, Season 2) The Good Place is a hilarious show staring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell. Danson is the architect of the town that good people go after they pass away. Bell is a resident that doesn’t believe that she belongs there and is trying to right her wrongs so she can feel like she fits into this good place. September 21: • Gotham (Fox, Season 4) • The Orville (Fox, Series Premiere) September 25: • The Good Doctor (ABC, Series Premiere) • The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Season 11) • Young Sheldon (CBS, Series Premiere) Set in East Texas, this series documents the young life of The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper. It follows the struggles of being a child genius in a normal world. • Kevin Can Wait (CBS, Season 2) • Me, Myself & I (CBS, Series Premiere) • Scorpion (CBS, Season 4) • The Brave (NBC, Series Premiere) September 26: • Bull (CBS, Season 2) • NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Season 4) • This Is Us (NBC, Season 2) The show that stole the hearts of Amerans across the country is back for its second season. Follow the childhood and adult lives of triplets Kevin, Kate, and Randall as they deal with the joys and sorrows that life hands to them. • Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders (NBC, Series Premiere) • Lethal Weapon (Fox, Season 2) • The Mick (Fox, Season 2) • Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, Season 5) September 27: • SEAL Team (CBS, Series Premiere) • The Blacklist (NBC, Season 5) • Chicago P.D. (NBC, Season 5) • The Goldbergs (ABC, Season 5) • Speechless (ABC, Season 2) • Modern Family (ABC, Season 9) • American Housewife (ABC, Season 2) • Designated Survivor (ABC, Season 2) • Empire (Fox, Season 4) • Star (Fox, Season 2) September 28: • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, Season 14) • How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, Season 4) •Superstore (NBC, Season 3) • Will & Grace (NBC, Series Revival) • Great News (NBC, Season 2) • Chicago Fire (NBC, Season 6) September 29: • Marvel’s Inhumans (ABC, Series Premiere) • MacGyver (CBS, Season 2) • Hawaii Five-o (CBS, Season 8) • Blue Bloods (CBS, Season 8) • The Exorcist (Fox, Season 2) October 1: • The Toy Box (ABC, Season 2) • Shark Tank (ABC, Season 9) • Ten Days in the Valley (ABC, Series Premiere) • Wisdom of the Crowd (CBS, Series Premiere) • NCIS:...

The Great Gatsby. Lord of the Flies. The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin. When you hear these titles, what do you think of? Chances are you either recognize these titles as classic literature or you read these books in some sort of English class. These books really helped shape our society However, these books, along with many others, are most frequently added to the banned books lists at schools. Most classic American literature was written during a significant time in history in the United States. For example, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was written during the Jim Crow era. This era was by no means a proud moment of America, but it was significant to our history. However, this book is commonly banned by schools. Yes, there is language that might be considered offensive. Yes, there are racial slurs. This is by no means excused, but it was the language of the author’s surroundings.. If that language was taken out, it could change the depiction of America from that era. If the racial slurs were taken out, the book would no longer be historically accurate. When a book like this is banned, it’s like administrations are trying to shelter students from the harsh reality that is America’s history. According to an article from USA Today by Heather Wines regarding challenged books, the main reason that books are challenged is because of sexually explicit content. While this makes sense, most classic novels do not have explicit sex scenes. Most of the time things such as prostitutes are mentioned but it doesn’t go into great detail about what really happens. In Wines’ article, violence, racism, and vulgar language were also mentioned as common reasons that books are banned. Although these are good reasons, you have to look at the big picture. These students should be old enough to understand that vulgar language does exist. They should also be able to recognize that sometimes this an author’s use of vulgar language is necessary to maintain some realistic accuracy in the book. These students also need to realize that racism was a huge part of our history, and arguably still is. Violent acts are often necessary to the plot of the novel or aren’t offensive enough to cause concern. Am I saying that a second-grade should read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck? No, I am not. I am saying that this novel should be acceptable for high school students to read and understand. Classic literature should not be allowed on the banned books list. This literature helped shape America. This literature portrays fictional accounts about real historical events. These are the...

For any college student, there is no time to be sick. There are always classes to go to, quizzes and tests to take, or organizational meetings to attend. While some illness is an inconvenience, some contagious diseases can be really harmful and be potentially deadly, which is why it is important for all students to be aware of certain diseases. Influenza, also known as “the flu” is one of the most common illnesses that occurs in college students. It commonly lasts anywhere from a few days to over a week. Symptoms of the flu include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and body aches. According to the Center for Disease Control, if you have the flu symptoms as well as sudden dizziness, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, or confusion, you should seek medical attention immediately. You can prevent the flu by getting the flu shot. “If you get the flu after getting the flu shot, it does not mean that the shot gave you the flu. It means that you were already infected with it before you got the shot,” said Debbie Rosenberger, BSN, RN, BC coordinator of health services. According to data collected by the American College Heath Association’s National College Health Assessment, 48 percent of college students get the flu shot annually. “Only about 10 percent of [UMHB] students got the flu shot on our campus,” Rosenberger said. “Flu shots are being offered on campus starting on Sept. 19. The cost for a shot is $20.” Another disease that has caused concern for many college students is meningitis, which can be viral and bacterial. “It is much rarer for people to die from viral meningitis; it is typically treatable. However, bacterial meningitis is very fast moving. People either recover or they don’t. Bacterial is what causes people to lose limbs,” Rosenberger said. According to the CDC, symptoms of viral meningitis are fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright light, sleepiness or trouble waking up, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and lethargy. People usually get better on their own within 7-10 days. Bacterial meningitis has the same symptoms but they are much more intense and happen more quickly. The CDC says that later symptoms can be coma or seizures. It is best to see a doctor if you think that you may have meningitis. Meningitis typically attacks young people, which is why it is a concern among college students. However, Texas law requires students to receive the vaccination before they can attend a college. According to the data from the ACHA, only 66 percent of students across...

Summer is the best time to hang out at the beach, spend time with friends, and go and see the newest blockbuster at the theater. Here are some of the best movies that came out this summer. Dunkirk- Released- July 21 Rotten Tomatoes Score- 93% Top Cast- Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles Critic Review- Technically awe-inspiring, narratively inventive and thematically complex, Dunkirk reinvigorates its genre with a war movie that is both harrowing and smart. –Kate Taylor, Globe and Mail Plot Summary- Set in May 1940, this thriller covers the Dunkirk Evacuation that saved 330,000 French, British, Belgian, and Dutch soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. It follows the story of 6 men and their different perspectives of dramatic events surrounding them. Cars 3- Released- June 16 Rotten Tomatoes Score- 68% Top Cast- Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo Critic Review- This warmly sentimental G-rated film about facing new realities and recapturing lost dreams has, despite its relatively adult story line, a beguilingly effortless feeling to it, as if it had nothing to prove. –Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Plot summary- Lightning McQueen is back in the third installment of this series. He finds himself becoming overshadowed by the new generation of racers, especially after a bad rollover that should have been career ending. However, McQueen proves that he still has a few more races left in him. Wonder Woman- Released- June 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score- 92% Top Cast- Gal Gadot, Chris Pine Critic Review- “Wonder Woman” is a superhero movie, and it fulfills the heroic and mythic demands of that genre, but it’s also an entry in the genre of wisdom literature that shares hard-won insights and long-pondered paradoxes of the past with a sincere intimacy. – Richard Brody, New Yorker Plot Summary- She started off as Diana, princess of the Amazons, but that all changed when she met an American pilot. After hearing about a conflict in the world around her, Diana decides to leave her home to help fight in the war, where she finally becomes Wonder Woman. Despicable Me 3- Released- June 30 Rotten Tomatoes Score- 61% Top Cast- Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker Critic Review- Steve Carell doubles your fun in Despicable Me 3 – voicing feuding twin bros. Carell is the life of the party and the main reason this animated blast of slapstick silliness packs appeal beyond the PG crowd. –Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Plot summary- After being fired from the Anti-Villain League, Gru decides to travel to Freedonia. While there, he is reunited with his long-lost twin brother. These two brothers have to work together to stop a former...

If you’re looking for a great place to cool off and beat the heat during the summer, then find one of these swimming holes right here in the Lone Star State. 1. Barton Springs Pool, Austin This is a natural spring located in Zilker Park. The temperature stays at a nice 70 degrees year-round. The cost to get in is eight dollars plus the cost of parking. 2. Inks Lake State Park, Burnet This state park’s main attraction is the lake. You can rent kayaks and float your way to Devil’s Waterhole. The cost is six dollars to get into the park. 3. Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels This is one of the biggest waterparks in Texas, with lots of different attractions. You can buy a day pass for $50.99 or purchase a variety of other packages. 4. Isla Blanca Park, South Padre Island This park is perfect for surfing and taking a nice little vacation over the summer. It is a beach on the Gulf. The cost is four dollars per vehicle, per day, and you can also get cheap surfing lessons while you’re there. 5. Balmorhea State Park, Toyahvale This park features the only spring-fed pool in the state. The water is clear and cool. The pool can get up to 25ft deep. There is a seven dollars entrance fee per person to get into the park. 6. Pedernales Falls State Park, Johnson City This park features a river that you can swim, tube, canoe or kayak in. There are also beautiful falls that you can look at. However, swimming is not permitted. The entry fee is $6. 7. Blanco State Park, Blanco This park permits swimming in all parts of the river. There is a shallow wading area next to Falls Dam. You can also rent tubes in the afternoon. Cost is...

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The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor prepares students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society.